Marilyn J. Backus

Marilyn J. Backus, 84, of Newton, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 10 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Memorials to the Newton Firefighters Benevolent Fund may be left at the funeral home.

Marilyn, the daughter of Harry and Beryl (Hayter) Bergman, was born May 25, 1931, at her parents’ home on the family farm north of Newton. She graduated from Newton High School in 1949. Marilyn was united in marriage with Stacy Backus on May 25, 1953, on the family farm. She worked at Santen’s Grocery Store and later worked for many years for the City of Newton, first in the water department and then as the deputy city clerk, retiring in 1996. She was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ, the United States Bowling Congress and the Moose Lodge. Marilyn enjoyed golfing, bowling, vacations at Clear Lake and attending her children and grandchildren’s activities.

Those left to honor Marilyn’s memory are her children, Rick (Marlis) Backus of Newton, Ron (Jan) Backus of Newton, and Rhonda Backus of Chanhassen, Minn.; grandchildren, Amy (Justin) Meyer, Christa (Justin) Vander Leest, Brad Backus, Nick Backus (Ashley Swank), Scott (Jodi) Barr, and Lisa (Sean) Aldrich, David (Colette) Faidley and Kristen Faidley; her great-grandchildren, Reagan, Maci, Jace, Avery, Austin, Zach, Mason, Alex, Aubrey, Peyton, Braden and Jacob; her brother, William Bergman of rural Newton; and many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Mary Altemeier. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stacy in 1996; brother, Jack Bergman in infancy; and two sisters, Marjorie Altemeier and Madge Blackwood.